Apparatus for treating strands



Dec. 12, 1944. v. A. RAYBURN APPARATUS FOR TREATING STRANDS Filed April 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG-2 //v VE/V 70/? l. A RA YBURN Dec. 12, 1944. v. A. RAYBURN APPARATUS FOR TREATING STRANDS Filed April 10, 1942 2 SheetS -Sheet 2 I INVENTOR Patented Dec. 12, 1944 APPARATUS FOR TREATING STRANDS Vincent A. Rayburn, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 10, 1942, Serial No; 438,456

7 Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus for treating strands and more particularly to apparatus for washing and drying strands.

The increased speed at which electrical conductors are now electroplated has necessitated faster and more efiicient means of washing and drying electroplated conductors preparatory to storing them or performing further operations thereon.

Objects of this invention are to provide new and improved apparatus for treating strands and particularly to provide new and improved apparatus for washing and drying strands.

One type of apparatus embodying the invention comprises means for immersing a strand in a body of washing liquid, means for projecting a thin curtain of water about a point in the path of the strand, and means for projecting a thin curtain of steam about a point in the path of. the washed strand. A plurality of wet plate eliminators are provided to condense the steam thereon, said steam being directed by appropriate means to the eliminators.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the at-- tached drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a washing and drying apparatus having portions thereof broken away to show more clearly certain portions of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the apparatus taken on line 2-2 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the apparatus as seen from the left in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a steam wiper forming part of the apparatus, taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the steam wiper shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in the attached drawings comprises apparatus designed to wash and dry electroplated conductors shortly after they emerge from an electroplating bath. In this embodiment of the invention, conductors llll0 are first cleaned and electroplated by means of suitable apparatus (not shown). After being electroplated, the conductors l0-l0 are advanced by any suitable means (not shown) through a washing tank ll (Figs.l and 2) having end plates 12 and M in which are formed a plurality of weirs |5 5 (Fig; 6) to serve as passages for the conductors and outlets for the washing liquid efflux. A washing liquid, which in the present embodiment is Water, is supplied to the tank II by any suitable means (not shown) at a rate sufficient to maintain the level of the washing liquid within the tank I l slightly above the conductors passing therethrough. Thus, the conductors |0l0 "are at all times completely covered by the washing liquid. The washing liquid overflows through the weirs |5-l5 into a collecting tank or enclosure I 8, thereby efiecting a continual change of the washing liquid within the Washing tank I l. The washing tank II is supported by means of horizontal flanges l6-l6 (Fig. 6) extending from the sides thereof, which rest upon inwardly and upwardly bent portions l1l1 of the collecting tank I8.

While most of the impurities adhering to the conductors want are removed by means of the foregoing washing processes, still the water within the wash tank is not changed rapidly enough to prevent some dilution from previous electroplating or other treating solutions and to insure the immediate removal of all impurities dissolved by the washing liquid from the vicinity of the conductors. These impurities, and in addition, certain impurities which tend to adhere firmly to the conductors are removed mechanically by causing a portion of the fresh and undiluted Washing liquid to impinge upon the conductors in th form of jets and effect a pressure rinse.

For this purpose, the conductors l0-l0 are next subjected to a conical spray of water projected about them by expansion nozzles l9|9 positioned in a manifold 20. The manifold 20 is fixedly connected to both sides of the collecting tank l8 by means of L-shaped bars 2I-2l and blocks 2222 and 23-23. Water is supplied. to the manifold 20 by a pipe 24. Since the particular arrangement of the expansion nozzles Iii-l3 within the manifold 20 is identical with that of the drying devices hereinafter described,

the details of the construction of this washing device will be disclosed in the following descrip- I tion of the drying device.

The drying device comprises a plurality of ex-,

pansion nozzles or tubular cores 25-45 positioned within a manifold or chamber 26 which is attached by means of bolts 2121 and 28 (Figs, 3 and 4) to a mounting plate 29 bolted to the end of the collecting tank l8. Adrying gas, which in this particular embodiment of the invention is on the bottom of the manifold 26.

. gas or steam to the nozzles 25-25. Each of the nozzles 25-25 has, screw threads 35-35 (Fig. 4) cut in a portion of their peripheries, which en- 1 gage screw threads 36-36 out in a plurality of passages 34-34 formed in an elongated projection 31 extending outwardly from the manifold 26. By suitably adjusting the nozzles 25-25 nozzles 25-25 coact with beveled openings 39-39 formed in a wall 40 of the manifold 26 to provide gas upon a limited section of the strand, but it also prevents building up back pressure or forming an intimate'gas film about the strand, as is the case when the drying gas is directed an appreciable length along the path of the strand.

When the projected gas is confined for an appreciable distance parallel tothe path of a strand, the gas loses some of its momentum and tends to form a layer which is moving at a slower speed than that of the projected gas. This slower moving layer of gas lies in the path of subsequently projected, faster moving gas and therefore tends within th projection 31, beveled ends 38-38 of 1 narrow, conical orifices ll-4|. 'Longitudinal bores 42-42 are cut through the nozzles -25 concentrically with the conical orifices 4l-4l and are axially aligned with apertures'43 and 44 formed in the ends of the collecting tank l8 and mounting plate 29, respectively, so that a strand to be treated may pass freely therethroughz A baffleAS, castintegrallywithin the cavity 32 of the, manifold 26 and having an aperture 46. (Fig. 4) provided to permit the bolt. 28v to pass therethrough, performs the dual function of a stay and a bafile. The baffle 45 is shaped (Fig. 3) so that; it deflects the. steam entering, through the inlet3l in such a. manner as to equalize the pres- I sure. of the steam throughout the. cavity33 and thereby equalize the forc of the jets of steam j projected through the conical orifices 4 l-M.

Each of the conical orifices ll-4| projects a thin, rapidly moving, conical curtain. of gas about a point in the path of the approaching strand to be treated, so that the hot gas curtain impinges the approaching strand at an. angle of approximately25 with respect tothe axis of the strand. The gas which is thus projected about and against the strand mechanically removes themajor portion of the. film of water adhering to the strand.

to slow up the subsequently, projected gas. This tendency of a previously projected mass of gas to act under such circumstances to retard the movement of a subsequently projected mass of gasis called back pressure.

The projection of the drying gas along an appreciable length of the strand causes a closely adjacent film of cold air to be sucked in at relatively low velocity through the nozzle bore and into the drying gas stream. The drying gas which expends the larger part of its energy Iongitudinally along the strand, must, with the small remaining perpendicular energy component, out through and remove this film before it can impart a definite Wipe or convey heat to the strand. Thus the'force of the projected gas is reduced. by back pressure and is counteracted by the film of. indrawn air around the strand.

By projecting the gas about a limited area of the surface of the strand to be treated, no back pressure is produced because the projected gasis deflected sharplyfrom the strand surface and immediately disperses. Noclosely adherent film of. gas forms about the strand because the longitudinal movement. of the projected gas along the strand isnot sufiicient to cause any substantial.

The angle at which the gas strikes the strand is 1' somewhat critical in order to obtain the maxi- Should the gas be directed toward the approaching strand at an; angle materially less tha'n 25 thereto, a large mum efiiciency of the device.

dentally aids in heating, the strand, the drying,:

effect due'to the heating of the strand by the hot gas is'als'o greatly diminished. Should the gas be projected at an angle: materially greater than 25, there is a marked tendency for the projected gas to blow back, through the nozzle bore, that is, to follow parallel along the treated strand in a direction opposite to that of its projection.

When such a blow-back occurs, the projected gas exerts no mechanical force to remove the liquid adhering to the moving strand. Even when no blow-backs occur, the gas projected at an angle materially greater than 25 exerts a proportionately greater force perpendicularly against the strand than longitudinally against the liquid" adhering to it, thereby reducing the Wiping effect of the rapidly moving gas curtain. The mechanical cleaning or wiping effect of the gas projected by nozzles 25-25 is intensified by concentrating the entire volume of gas in a'thin, annular cur tain about a single point in the path of a strand to be treated, as shown in Fig. 5*. "Not only doesthis manner. of projecting the drying gas concentrate. the; total mechanical force of-{ theprojectedquantity of cold air to be drawn through the nozzle bore to form sucha film. v

Neither irregularitiesiin the diameter of the strand nor misalignment of the strand in the:

nozzle bore prevents the conical curtain of gas from. exerting its full drying] force against the strand. Because the nozzles 25-25 direct the dryingv gas toward, the strand from all points. around the strand; all ofthe strandiwill be treated independently of its position. within. the area into which gas is-projected. 3 Y v By positioning the orifi'ce 41-4] at theforward tip ofthe expansion nozzle 25-25 and sharply" relieving the frontal faceof'the manifold 26;,as indicated at 61 (Fig. 4), the gas projected there'- from expands rapidly; thereby suddenly reducing the pressure of the escaping, projected gas. sudden reduction of pressure'm'omentarily superheats the ambient gas about the strand increasing its moisture capacifqf sharply and causing the. intimate moisture film" remaining on thestrand to flash into vaporandi'be carried" away' by the projected gas stream, thus leaving the strand second, the evaporation ofthe waterbythe heat imparted to the strand by the gas projected thereabout; andthird, the evaporation of the remaining, closely adherent water" film from the strand by the gas pressure" reduction aboutthe strand" resulting from the immediate and rapid expansion of the gasupon'itsbeing" ejected from the. nozzle-through which the" strandis passing.

foregoing description, it is evident A conical curtain of water is projected about the strands by the nozzles Ill-l9 in a manner similar to .that described with respect to the curtains of steam produced by the nozzles 25-25. This rapidly moving curtain of water removes all of the impurities from the strand which are not removed-by the washing liquid in the wash tank.

II. The water, like the steam from the nozzles 25-25, is projected about a single point of the path of a strand to be treated, so that the mechanical force of the water is concentrated and, consequently, reaches its maximum effectiveness.

Any fluid, whether a liquid or gas, may be projected by the nozzles I 9-! 9 or'25-25 to perform a number of diilerent functions.

A cover 41 is. provided to enclose thewashing I the cover 4'1. This construction makes the cover hinge steam-tight. Thehinge pinv 50 is pivoted at both ends in the upwardly bent portions 11-! I of the collecting tank I 8. A pawl (Fig. 3) is attached to the extremity of the hinge pin 50 which extends beyond the flange II. A plunger 52of ,a spring closing valve 53, which controls.

the supply of steam to the manifold 26, is positioned so that the lowering of the cover 41 will cause the pawl 5! to engage the plunger 52 and open the valve 53. A yoke 54 welded to the side of the tank It guides the plunger 52. A similar valve 55 controls the water supplied to the washing device and is similarly operated by a lug 56 (Fig. 3) welded to the side of the cover 41 adjacent to the valve 55.

When the cover 41 is in the closed position as seen in Fig. 2, a stop 51 (Fig. l) welded to the side of the cover 47 rests upon the upwardly bent portion l7. With the cover in this position, both of the valves 53 and 55 are open so that water and steam are projected about the strands. The cover is secured in the closed position by a latch 58 which catches on a pin 59 (Fig.'2). When a latch handle 60 (Fig. 1) is moved upwardly, the latch 58 is drawn free of the pin 59 and the cover may be lifted. Immediately upon lifting the cover 4?, the valves 53and 55 close and the water and steam are shut off, so that there is no danger of injury to the operator of the machine from the hot steam.

The eliminator plates 48-48 have a corrugated shape, as shown in Fig. 1, and are fixedly positioned in the lower portion of the collecting tank l9 by means of angle bars 6I-6I having slots 62-62 (Fig. 2) formed therein to retain the eliminator plates. The angle bars 6I-6l are connected to the sides of the collecting tank l8 and are disposed at the top and bottom of the eliminator plates 48-48 in order to firmly position them. The cold water projected about the conductors Illby the nozzles l9-I9 passes into the lower portion of the collecting tank I8 and wets the eliminator plates 48-48. As the steam passes through the angled eliminator plates, it strikes the wet cold surfaces of the plates, gives up its heat, and condenses on the plates. Any moisture which reaches the foremost end of the eliminator plates 48-48 is retained by the hook-shaped ends 64-64 (Fig. 1) thereof. The cold water and the condensed The cover steam are collected at the bottom of the collecting tank and are drained therefrom by means of a funnel-shaped outlet 65 (Fig. 2).

The eliminator plates 48-48 prevent the steam from enveloping the entire apparatus so as to interfere with the operation thereof, .while at the same time they condense the steam fast enough to prevent back pressure from building up about the nozzles.

pressure atmosphere about the conductors, as

above described, and thus would. decrease the drying efiect of the steam nozzles 25-25.

-As shown in Fig. 2, a drip pan 66 having a drain 68 may belocated beneath the collecting tank Hi to keep the fioor free from water.

It is understood that various departures may be made from the specific embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings and described. in the foregoing specification without departing from the spirit of invention.-. For example, any

type of washing liquid or any.type of drying gas suitable for the purposes of this invention may be used. The device may be used wherever it is desirable to wash and dry strands, and is not limited to washing and drying electrical conductors. Other changes will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for treating a strand, a

chamber having an inlet and outlet for a continuously moving moist strand, an expansion nozzle mounted in the chamber and surrounding the path of the strand, and means for supplying a hot drying gas under pressure to the chamber,

a wall of the chamber and a portion of the e. pansion nozzle coacting to form a passageway for directing a conical curtain of the gas toward and about the strand in a direction opposite to that of the movement of the strand, said wall of the chamber being sharply relieved adjacent to the forward tip of the expansion nozzle, whereby a thin curtain of the gas is projected about and against a small portion at the strand surface.

2. In an apparatus for treating a moist strand, an enclosure having in combination therewith a nozzle for projecting a thin, conical curtain of steam about a point in the path of a strand, means for advancing a strand through said enclosure and the nozzle, means for supplying steam to the nozzle, a plurality of wet plate elimi nators adjacent to the nozzle, and means for directing the steam which has been projected about i the strand through the eliminators to condense the steam and thereby create a low pressure area near the nozzle.

3. An apparatus for' treating a moist metallic strand, which comprises a chamber having a conical opening in one wall thereof and an aligned tubular opening in the opposite wall thereof, a tubular member adjustably positioned in said tubular opening and having a conical end portion positioned to coa'ct with said conical opening to form an annular, conical passageway, means for advancing such a strand through the center of said passageway, and means for supplying steam under pressure to said chamber, whereby a, thin, conical curtain of the steam is projected through said passageway toward apoint on the axis of a strand passing therethrough and impinges upon a small, band-shaped area on the surface of the strand, the projected steam being free to expand immediately after it traverses the passageway.

The building up of back pressure would prevent the formation of a low 4. man apparatus for treating a strand, a chamber having an inlet and an outlet to permit the strand to pass therethrough, an expansion nozzle positioned within the chamber and having an axial bore designed to permit thepassage *therethrough of a, strand,-means for advancing a strand through the axial bore, and means for supplying steam to the chamber, said chamber inlet and expansion nozzle coacting to form a thin sheet-likepassage gradually con-verging from an annular opening of a large diameter adjacent 1130 the interior of the chamber toan annular opening of a.small diameter at the exterior of the chamber for expelling a thin, con-verging sheet of steam with high velocity against a small peripheral area of a strand advanced through the axial bore.

5.v In an apparatus for treating a strand, a chamber having an inlet and an outlet to permit a continuously moving strand to pass therethrough, said inlet being frustroconical in shape with the larger portion thereof positioned at the interior of a wall of the chamber and the smaller portion thereof positioned at the exterior of the Wall, means for supplying steam to the chamber,

and atubular expansion nozzle positioned within ;the chamber and having a frustroconical surface formed on an end thereof disposed adjacent to the chamber inlet in complementary relationship thereto, whereby the frustroconical surface and the frustroconical inlet form a converging sheet-- like passage therebetween for directing a converging sheet of steam toward and about a point in the path of the strand and in a direction opposite to and at an angle of about 25 with respect to the path of movement of the strand.

, outwardly tapered frustroconicalsurface formed 6. In an apparatusfor treating'a moist strand, a thick-walled shell havingian inlet and an outlet'formed in opposite walls thereof, which inlet -is trustroconical in shape and tapers from a large opening at the inner side of the wall in which it is formedto a relatively small opening at the outer sideof that wall, a tubular core having an on'an end thereof complementary to the trustwconi'cal inlet and positioned in alignment with the inlet and the outlet and with the frustroconical surface fitting into the frustroconical inlet, whereby a thin sheet-like passage is formed between the' inlet and the frustroconical surface, and means for supplying steam under pressure to the interior of the shell to force a thin con.- verging sheet of the steam through the passage.

, 7. In an apparatus for treating a strand, means for advancing a moist strand, an expansion nozzle surrounding ,and spaced from the path of the moving strand, means for positioning the nozzle with respect to the strand, means for supplying 

